Three happy Warwick Business School MBA students discuss sustainability, two men and a woman

Purpose powered: Full-time MBA students at WBS can take a Social and Environmental Sustainability specialism

Warwick Business School’s MBA programme has been named second among the world’s ‘large’ business schools for sustainability in the latest Better World MBA ranking by Corporate Knights.  

The ranking by the Canadian business magazine assessed 179 MBA programmes worldwide on criteria such as the inclusion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in core modules, sustainability-focused research output, and diversity among faculty.  

WBS emerged as the UK’s top performer among large schools – ie those with more than 80 students on their Full-time MBA course – and second globally. 

Frederik Dahlmann, Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability and Head of the School’s Sustainability Community, said the achievement underscores a long-term commitment.  

“The accolade reflects our deep integration of environmental and social responsibility into the School’s teaching, research, and operations,” said Dr Dahlmann. 

“Sustainability is not just a buzzword for us; it’s a fundamental lens through which we view business education. It is embedded in everything we do, from our teaching and research to how we operate as an institution. 

“Our goal is to equip future leaders with the ability to make sense of complex global challenges and embed responsible practices into their organisations. This ranking validates years of work to ensure sustainability is woven into every aspect of our MBA curriculum and research agenda.” 

The Better World MBA ranking evaluates the proportion of core MBA modules that integrate sustainable development themes, with the remaining 10 per cent of the ranking measuring the percentage of recent graduates working for organisations focused on social or environmental solutions. 

Students on the Warwick Business School’s Full-time MBA have the option of taking the Social and Environmental Sustainability specialism, which equips them to support an organisation to achieve social and environmental goals as well as financial ones. 

At the same time the WBS Global Energy Research Network explores the new frameworks that will enable companies and countries to meet future demands for affordable and sustainable energy. 

Warwick MBA: Driving change through sustainability research

A total of £2.73 million has been awarded to WBS in research grants for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability studies since 2020, including a £1.1 million project by Katharina Dittrich, Associate Professor of Organisation Studies, on climate-related risks in the financial investment industry. 

Dawn Eubanks, Course Director of the Full-time MBA and Associate Professor of Behavioural Science and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, said: “Our MBA candidates increasingly want to lead with purpose.  

“They’re not just seeking financial success, they want to create a positive impact. We’ve responded by embedding sustainability into leadership modules and offering experiential projects that challenge students to design solutions for real-world environmental and social problems. 

“It’s about preparing graduates to navigate uncertainty and make decisions that balance profit with planet and people. 

“As a business school for the Change Makers, we equip our students to go out into the world and have a positive impact on society.” 

Discover more about Warwick Business School’s Change Makers.